POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA

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Tel: +264 (61) 207 9111 Fax: +264 (61) 207 2444
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Email azulu@polytechnic.edu.na Tel: +264 (61) 207 2514 Fax: +264 (61) 207 2521


Department of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Mechanics Particle Dynamics (EMC610S)

Examination #1
Date: 18
th
March 2013
Duration: 2 hours

Total marks: 60



Examiner: Mr. A. M. Zulu

Moderator: Dr. R. Steenkamp



IMPORTANT NOTICES:

- Write neatly and legibly, as illegible work will not be considered for marks. If
you are of the opinion that insufficient information was provided to solve a specific
problem, make realistic assumptions, motivate these and continue solving the
problem based on your assumptions made.

- Use F.B.Ds and illustrative diagrams wherever possible.

- Clearly show the reference Cartesian axes system used for each question.

- Pay attention to units and show the relevant unit in each calculated answer.

- No marks will be awarded for answers only. Calculations must contain a
minimum number of logically sequenced steps followed by an answer.

- In cases where two or more different - and undeleted answers are given for the
same item, the right answer will not be considered for marks.

- Use, where applicable, gravitational acceleration g = 9.81 m/s
2
.

- Answer all questions.


- 2 -
Question 1

The acceleration of a particle which moves with rectilinear translation is given by
( ) 2 a t = [m/s
2
]. When t = 0, the displacement and velocity are zero.
(a) calculate the velocity v and displacement s when t = 2 s and when t = 4 s [6]
(b) draw labelled sketches of s, v, and a for 0 4 t s s s [6].

Question 2

The golf ball of Figure Q2 is hit at A with a speed of 40 m/s and directed at an angle of
30 with the horizontal as shown. Determine the distance d where the ball strikes the
slope at B [14].

Figure Q2.

Question 3

Particle P travels on a circular path with radius 2.5 m as shown in Figure Q3. The
speed of P is decreasing at the instant considered. If the total acceleration is given as
17.0 m/s
2
, determine the velocity of P and the angular acceleration of line OP at that
instant [10].

Figure Q3.
















- 3 -
Question 4

Starting from rest, a boy runs outward in the radial direction from the centre of the
platform with a constant acceleration of 0.5 m/s
2
(Figure Q4). If the platform is rotating
at a constant rate of 0.2 rad/s, determine the normal and tangential components of the
velocity and acceleration of the boy when t = 3 s. Neglect his size [12].


Figure Q4.

Question 5

The vertical displacement of cylinder A is given by
2
0.25 y t = [m], where t is in seconds
(Figure Q5). Calculate the downward acceleration a
B
of cylinder B [12].

Figure Q5.




Formulae:
vdv ads = ; ( )
2 2 2
0 0 0 0 0 0
; 0.5 ; 2
x y y y
x x v t y y v t gt v v g y y = + = + =
( )
2 2 2 2
2
2
sin sin 2
; ; tan 1 tan
2 2 2
u u gx
h s y x
g g u
u u
u u = = = +
/ A B A B
v v v = + ;
r
v re r e
u
u = + ;
( ) ( )
2
2
r
a r r e r r e
u
u u u = + +

R R
v v e v e v e
u u | |
= + + ;
R R
a a e a e a e
u u | |
= + + ; where ; cos ;
R
v R v R v R
u |
u | | = = =
( )
( )
2 2 2 2
2 2
cos
cos ; 2 2 sin ;
1
2 sin cos
R
a R R R a R RR R
R
a R RR R
R
u
|
|
| u | u u u| |
| | u | |
= = +
= + +

- end -